Bill > S542

This bill establishes comprehensive requirements for ventilation and health safety in Massachusetts school buildings, focusing on ensuring clean air and protecting students and educators during both normal operations and pandemic situations. The legislation mandates that school ventilation systems provide a minimum of 4 air changes per hour, 20 cubic feet per minute of outdoor air per person, or maintain carbon dioxide levels below 800 parts per million, with temperature requirements between 66 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. During a pandemic, schools must implement enhanced ventilation measures to reduce airborne disease transmission by 95%, maintain specific relative humidity levels, and provide necessary personal protective equipment and disinfection supplies. Local education authorities must conduct thorough assessments of their ventilation systems within 18 months, including detailed testing and reporting, and must make necessary repairs or upgrades to meet the new standards. The bill also creates enforcement mechanisms allowing employees or employee organizations to file complaints and seek legal remedies if ventilation requirements are not met. Additionally, the legislation establishes a special commission to study school ventilation, indoor air quality, and related issues, and requires the Massachusetts School Building Authority to create a new category of reconstruction projects specifically for ventilation system upgrades, with regulations to ensure future school buildings meet these enhanced health and safety standards.

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https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S542